Who Is Really Behind the Tensions in the South China Sea?

谁在制造南海紧张局势？微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Liu Xiaoming, Ambassador of China to the UK

中国驻英国大使 刘晓明

On 9 May, the Financial Times and its website published a signed article by Ambassador Liu Xiaoming entitled “Who is really behind the tensions in the South China Sea?”. The full text is as follows:

2016年5月9日，英国主流大报《金融时报》纸质版和网络版以及中文网同时刊登驻英国大使刘晓明题为《谁在制造南海紧张局势？》的署名文章，全文如下：

Sir, Senator John McCain made ungrounded accusations about China’s policies and actions with regard to the South China Sea in his op-ed “America needs more than symbolism in the South China Sea” (April 13). His comment pays no regard to facts and reflects prejudice and hostility against China.

4月13日，美国参议员麦凯恩先生在贵报发表了题为《美国在南海要有实际行动》的文章，对中国在南海问题上的政策和做法进行无理指责。其言论不仅颠倒事实，混淆黑白，而且充斥着对中国的偏见和敌意。

Who is “militarising” the South China Sea? Senator McCain points at China, but the US has been intentionally flexing its muscles in the region with its forward-deployed military forces.

In recent years, US military jets and warships in the South China Sea have conducted frequent close-in reconnaissance in the adjacent waters and air space of China’s islands and reefs. This has been accompanied by targeted joint military drills which have significantly raised tension in the South China Sea.

是谁在南海搞“军事化”？麦凯恩先生在文中指责中国，但近年来正是美国在不断加大军事前沿部署，频繁派遣军用舰机到中国南海岛礁邻近海空域进行抵近侦查，炫耀武力，并轮番开展针对性很强的联合军演，极大加剧了南海紧张局势。

Senator McCain urges the US to launch a robust “freedom of the seas campaign”, as if the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea had been under immediate threat.

The reality is that more than 100,000 vessels pass through the South China Sea every year. In no single case has freedom of navigation been affected. The freedom of navigation is in fact the “freedom” for the US to assert its maritime dominance in the South China Sea and challenge the sovereignty, security and maritime rights of others.

This is in fact a licence for the US to do whatever it wants. Such a licence poses the biggest threat to regional peace and stability as well as the real freedom of navigation in this region.

麦凯恩先生鼓吹美国发起强有力的“海洋自由行动”，仿佛南海的航行自由出了什么问题。事实上目前每年有十几万艘船只经过南海地区，从未有船只抱怨过航行自由受到过任何影响。麦凯恩先生所称的“自由”，其实是美国利用自己的力量优势践踏别国主权安全和海洋权益的“自由”，是在南海行使其海上霸权的“自由”。说穿了，就是美国的“横行自由”。这种“横行自由”才是南海地区和平稳定以及真正航行自由的最大威胁。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Who is challenging the international law? Senator McCain appeals to his government to work with regional allies and partners to “counter Chinese behaviour that is in violation of international law”. Senator McCain needs to specify which clauses in the international laws China has violated.

China has kept a strong commitment to international law. After years of negotiation and consultation, China has signed border treaties with 12 of its 14 neighbours on land, and has completed maritime delimitation of the Beibu Bay with Vietnam.

International law allows China the right to reject and choose not to participate in the South China Sea Arbitration unilaterally initiated by the Philippines. Back in 2006, China made a declaration in accordance with Article 298 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), excluding disputes such as those on maritime delimitation from compulsory arbitration. More than 30 other countries, including the UK, have made similar declarations.

China’s decision is also consistent with a series of bilateral agreements with the Philippines and Article 4 of the DOC, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea signed in 2002 between China and 10 ASEAN nations. Since Senator McCain places stress on complying with international law, perhaps he can explain why the US has chosen not to join UNCLOS?

As a sovereign state, China has the legitimate right, as empowered in the UN Charter, to carry out construction in its own islands in the South China Sea and fulfil its international obligations. Ironically, the US is still refusing to sign theUNCLOS and hides behind the rhetoric of safeguarding international law.

是谁在挑战国际法？麦凯恩先生在文中声称要集合盟友对抗中国违反国际法的行为。麦凯恩先生是否能说清楚，中国违反了哪条国际法？迄今为止，中国已经与14个陆上邻国的12个签订了边界条约，与越南完成了北部湾海上划界，以谈判协商积极践行了国际法。中国拒绝接受和参与菲律宾单方面提起的南海仲裁案，正是国际法赋予的权利。中国依据《联合国海洋法公约》第298条有关规定作出排除性声明，将有关海域划界等争端排除在《公约》强制争端解决机制之外。目前，包括英国在内已有30多个国家作出类似排除性声明；同时中国的决定也符合中菲系列双边协定和《南海各方行为宣言》第四条。中国在南海岛礁的建设活动，履行的是中国所承担的国际责任和义务，行使的是《联合国宪章》赋予主权国家的合法权利。反观美国，至今迟迟不肯加入《联合国海洋法公约》，却在奢谈维护国际法，何其荒谬！微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

As an old Chinese adage goes, the offender complains first. There is also the quotation: “A lie gets halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” This is the danger that springs from articles such as that authored by Senator McCain.

中国有句俗语：恶人先告状。西方也有一句成语：当真相还在穿鞋，谎言已经跑了半个世界。这两句话用在麦凯恩先生的文章上，真是再合适不过。

China is a responsible country and a staunch force for world and regional peace. China will work with all other countries, as it has always done, to build the South China Sea into a sea of peace, a sea of friendship and a sea of co-operation.

中国是维护世界和地区和平的坚定力量，是负责任的大国，将一如既往地与各国共同努力，将南海建设成和平之海、友好之海、合作之海。